Environmental Sustainability
For decades, South Bay communities have faced a cross-border pollution crisis that disrupts daily life, impacts health and limits access to clean beaches. This budget strengthens our commitment to health, safety and transparency by expanding monitoring, improving public reporting and outreach, and providing same-day beach water quality updates. Additional investments supporting broader environmental protections across the region that build safer, healthier communities countywide.
Investments include:
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Regional Watershed Protection & Ocean Pollution Prevention — $25.6 million (+$2 million)**
Supports watershed protection efforts that reduce ocean pollution and promote clean beaches, healthy ecosystems and safe drinking water.
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Waste Diversion, Emissions Reduction & Closed Landfill Management — $25 million (+$3.9 million)**
Integrates programs that divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with long-term monitoring and management of closed landfills to protect air and groundwater quality and strengthen regional environmental safeguards.
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Hazardous Materials Oversight & Incident Response — $17.6 million (+$ 42,000)**
Provides comprehensive protection of public health and environmental safety by permitting and inspecting more than 14,000 hazardous materials facilities and strengthening the Hazardous Incident Response Team’s capacity to respond to and mitigate chemical emergencies and public complaints.
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Farmland Preservation, Open Space Protection & Agricultural Safeguards — $17.3 million (+$ 660,000)**
Protects the region’s agricultural economy and natural landscapes by permanently preserving farmland, expanding protection of open space and enhancing efforts to detect and prevent invasive pests that threaten crops and local ecosystems.
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Climate Action Plan-related Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Investments — $15 million (+$3.9 million)
(includes some programs referenced in other areas of the budget)
Implementation of the County’s Climate Action Plan measures that cut GHG emissions, improve air quality and strengthen long-term climate resilience.
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Groundwater Resource Management — $3.4 million
Supports long-term groundwater management and protects regional water security.
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Green Building & Solar Energy Promotion — $1.4 million
Promotes green building practices and accelerates solar energy adoption throughout the region.
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EV Roadmap Expansion & Fleet Electrification — $1.2 million
Advances the County’s EV Roadmap by replacing fleet vehicles with electric vehicles and installing new charging stations at sites including Campo RMS, Julian RMS, Pine Valley Park, Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, El Monte Park and Lake Morena Park.
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Tree Planting — $500,000
Plants 1,000 new trees to improve air quality, expand shade coverage and support healthier neighborhoods. In addition to planting trees on County properties in support of our climate action goals, our private property tree program gives unincorporated area private property owners or their designees free 15-gallon trees to plant themselves.
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Pollution Chief for Tijuana River Valley Regional Coordination
Funds a new Pollution Chief to lead regional collaboration, identify resources and drive longterm solutions for the Tijuana River Valley. This will cover recruitment, salary and benefits for the incumbent, along with start-up costs related to integrating the role.
** Some adjustments shown reflect how we are aligning funding with updated strategies, staffing adjustments and operational efficiencies. These changes represent a realignment to match current program models and available funding sources. In several cases, costs have been recategorized or shifted to alternative funding streams, but underlying services remain prioritized and supported.
CONTACT
County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
